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UW-Whitewater announces 2001-2002 university-wide award winners

Released: May 10, 2002


The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater honored faculty and academic staff excellence at the annual Faculty/Staff Recognition Dinner Friday in the Hamilton Center of the James R. Connor University Center. Six individuals will be recognized for their accomplishments and contributions.
Individuals to receive the university-wide awards include:

W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award
Ronald Berger is a gifted teacher with 20 years of service at UW-Whitewater. He uses an interactive style of teaching, encouraging students to discuss a subject and to express their opinions. He makes course material relevant to students by emphasizing its practical implications. Students and faculty express their respect for his extensive knowledge, availability and dedication. Along with his excellent teaching record, Berger has published eight books and dozens of articles, with many of his books being used in his classes and on other campuses.

Berger teaches courses on juvenile delinquency, the Holocaust, criminology, and subjects related to sociology. He has been coordinator of the criminal justice program for 17 years. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology from the University of California-Los Angelos. He resides in MacFarland.

The W.P. Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award, UW-Whitewater’s highest teaching award, was established in memory of W.P. Roseman who directed the campus elementary schools from 1919 to 1924. The winner carries the ceremonial mace during the 2002-2003 commencement ceremonies.

Outstanding Research Award
Michael Woller is an enthusiastic and productive researcher in the department of Biological Sciences, notably in the field of endocrinology. He loves to share his passion for research with colleagues and students. He is a strong advocate of undergraduate research and often has several students in his lab producing quality work of their own. Many of his publications in highly respected journals have student co-authors. He collaborates extensively with researchers off campus and is currently on sabbatical at the University of Montana-Missoula.

Woller serves as associate professor who came to this campus in 1995. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the UW-Oshkosh and his doctorate degree in endocrinology and reproductive physiology from UW-Madison. He is also an adjunct professor at UW-Madison at the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center.

The UW-Whitewater Award for Outstanding research recognizes faculty members for making significant advances to knowledge, technique or creative expression in his or her professional field. It honors a faculty member who excels at research and is an exemplary teacher-scholar.

Faculty Service Award
Virginia Epps wears many hats. She reviewed proposals for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) which UW-Whitewater hosted this year and has attended three other such conferences. She is a member of the McNair Scholars Advisory Committee, where she helps interview and select each year’s scholars and she has mentored seven students. She is also a member of the Faculty Senate and the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. Her voice can be heard as the courtside announcer for the women’s volleyball team.

In the department of Curriculum & Instruction, Epps advises secondary science education majors and elementary majors as well. She prepares materials for Project SWEETT, a bilingual educational program. In 2001, she received the Department of Natural Resources “Outstanding Facilitator” award for running three summer workshops, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree and Project WET. These workshops help teachers fulfill the state conservation requirement.

Epps began her career at UW-Whitewater in 1991. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas.

The UW-Whitewater Faculty Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions in services to the university and the wider community.

Everett Long Award for Advancement of General Education
David Cartwright has only taught two courses that did not carry credit in general education in his 21 years at UW-Whitewater. He writes, "I believe that general education is the heart and soul of students' university education." Colleagues cite Cartwright's dedication to the program, having sponsored or co-sponsored six new general education courses while spending untold hours in the various stages of course development, pilot teaching projects, and ushering the proposals through curriculum committees.

Cartwright's work has already been recognized having won both the Saunders Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities (1990) and the College of letters and Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching (1996).

Cartwright, a professor of philosophy and religious studies, received a bachelor's degree in biology and philosophy from UW-Stevens Point, a master's degree in philosophy from the
University of Wyoming, and at UW-Madison he earned a master's degree and doctorate in philosophy. He was born and raised in Milwaukee and now resides in the town of Whitewater.
The Everett Long Award for the Advancement of General Education, is endowed by Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the History Department Everett Long. The award is given to a faculty member who over their career, has been exceptionally vital in advancing the centrality of the general education program.

Excellence Award for Instructional Staff
Jane Ferencz has been active in the continued development of WOTA, the arts component of the university's core curriculum and has been involved in the creation of a team-taught honors section of the course, along with colleagues from art, theater/dance, and communication. In the music department she has been active in incorporating technology into music history courses, especially in instructing music students in the use of web-based research tools.

Ferencz writes that the focal point of her teaching is her attempt to be fair to every student and the notion most college students are willing to work hard in a class if they see value in the topic. She explores ways to interest the MTV-generation in the arts and aesthetics and to interest music students with the intellectual and historical aspects of their art.

Ferencz began her service at UW-Whitewater in 1996, and currently serves as a lecturer in music. She earned a bachelor's degree in Music from DePauw University, master's degrees in cello performance and musicology from Kent State University, a doctorate in musicology from UW-Madison, and has additional doctoral work in musicology at Indiana University. Ferencz is from Oxford, Ohio and currently resides in Whitewater.

The UW-Whitewater Instructional Staff Award, established in 1985, recognizes outstanding performances by a member of the instructional academic staff.

Excellence Award for Non-Instructional Staff
Teresa Golembiewski states that for her “biology is life.” That priority translates into valuable support for the Biological Sciences Department. She assists in field trips and classes, prepares chemical solutions, repairs equipment, maintains laboratories, and manages the greenhouse, animal care and museum facilities. She teaches an annual class for the Young Scholars summer program and the Biological Foundations course as needed. She is a member of the International Carnivorous Plant Society, Botanical Club of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Wetlands Association and the Whitewater Tree Commission.

Golembierwski has served as laboratory manager and technician at UW-Whitewater since 1990. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Milwaukee and currently resides in Whitewater.

This award, established in 1985, recognizes outstanding performance by a member of the non-instructional academic staff.

- Melissa DiMotto,dimottom@uww.edu